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United States Patent |
6,163,595
|
Parker
,   et al.
|
December 19, 2000
|
Way finding with an interactive faceplate
Abstract
An interactive electronic module (IEM) is adapted as a retrofit module for
use in modular network equipment to provide real time analysis of trunk
line signal performance and to detect trunk line signal faults, the IEM
including a faceplate display panel accessible to the network operator for
displaying the detected signal faults and for providing operator access to
the IEM to command the display of selected trunk line faults.
Inventors:
|
Parker; Janice Maxine (Cary, NC);
Moseby; John Radie (Chapel Hill, NC);
Rupp; Diana Arden (Cary, NC);
Huffman; Barry Dean (Cary, NC)
|
Assignee:
|
Nortel Networks Limited (CA)
|
Appl. No.:
|
301849 |
Filed:
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April 29, 1999 |
Current U.S. Class: |
379/22; 379/12; 379/20; 379/22.03; 455/423; 455/560; 455/561 |
Intern'l Class: |
H04M 001/24 |
Field of Search: |
379/12,17,20,22,26
455/423,424,425,560,561
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
5049873 | Sep., 1991 | Robins et al. | 379/14.
|
5544222 | Aug., 1996 | Robinson et al. | 379/58.
|
5867689 | Feb., 1999 | McLain, Jr. | 395/500.
|
5946373 | Aug., 1999 | Harris | 379/26.
|
Primary Examiner: Kuntz; Curtis A.
Assistant Examiner: Tran; Quoc
Claims
We claim:
1. Apparatus, for use with signal network equipment of the type having
modular units which are interconnected through the master backplane of an
equipment mounting cabinet to control, through use of a programmed network
equipment signal processor, the exchange of network format signals between
network subscribers over network trunk lines, the apparatus comprising:
an interface electronics module (IEM), having an IEM signal processor and
associated IEM signal memory, for performing signal analysis of the
network format signals to detect the presence and absence of signal fault
conditions on a plurality of network trunk lines received therein and for
providing signal indicia thereof, said IEM having a housing with a
faceplate and an IEM signal connector for receiving said plurality of
network trunk lines, said housing being adapted for releasable mounting in
the equipment mounting cabinet in a manner so as to position said
faceplate in an operator viewable location when said IEM signal connector
is engaged with the master backplane; and
a control panel, adapted for mounting to said faceplate and having an array
of viewable signal display apparatus and one or more operator controlled
input devices disposed thereon, each said signal display being responsive
to said signal indicia from said IEM and to said operator controlled input
devices for providing, in response to commands from said operator
controlled input devices, a viewable display of selectable ones of the IEM
detected signal fault conditions.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said faceplate and said signal
connector are disposed at distal ends of said housing.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
said IEM signal processor performs said signal analysis of the network
format signals on each network trunk line received at said signal
connector in successive sample time intervals to detect in each sample
interval the presence and absence of a selected type of signal fault
conditions, said IEM signal processor storing the analysis results of each
sample interval for each, sampled trunk line in said IEM signal memory;
said operator controlled input devices include apparatus for providing
operator command signals to said IEM signal processor, including a trunk
selection command signal capable of identifying each individual trunk line
analyzed by said IEM, said IEM signal processor providing to said viewable
signal display apparatus in response to said trunk selection command
signal, the current sample interval signal fault conditions which are
stored in said IEM signal memory for the identified trunk line; and
said array of viewable signal display apparatus comprises a first group of
signal annunciators, each first group signal annunciator being associated
with one of said selected type signal fault conditions, and each said
annunciator displaying the current sample interval signal fault conditions
associated with the trunk line identified by a current said trunk
selection command signal, said array of signal display apparatus further
comprising a second group of signal annunciators for displaying the
identity of the trunk line associated with a current trunk selection
command signal.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein each first group signal annunciator
comprises one or more alpha numeric characters which identify the
associated type signal fault condition, said alpha numeric characters
being visibly illuminated in the presence of the associated signal fault
condition and being non-illuminated in the absence of said signal fault
condition.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said first group of signal
annunciators each comprise a mask with a translucent portion in a
configuration of the alpha-numeric character which is symbolic of the
associated signal fault condition, and backlight apparatus capable of
providing illumination of said mask in the presence of said associated
signal fault condition.
6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said first group of signal
annunciators each provide a three character alpha-numeric display to
identify the associated signal fault condition.
7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said second group of signal
annunciators comprise one or more light emitting diodes.
8. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said operator controlled command input
devices comprise a pair of depressable switches which, when depressed,
alternately increment and decrement through a list of trunk line
identifiers to identify, when released, the current trunk line identified
in said trunk command signal.
9. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein:
said IEM signal memory further includes stored program signals which
command the IEM signal processor to periodically perform a self test of
the IEM functional performance and to provide, in the presence of a
detected IEM functional fault, a signal indication thereof; and
said array of viewable signal display devices include a third group of
signal annunciators which are responsive to said signal indications of an
IEM functional fault, to provide a viewable display of the current state
of IEM functional performance.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:
a termination interface module (TIM) adapted to be releasably joined to
said IEM through an adaptive backplane assembly to form a retrofit modular
unit capable of being releasably mounted in the equipment mounting
cabinet, said adaptive backplane assembly being capable of electrically
connecting said IEM and said TIM to the master backplane of the equipment
mounting cabinet with installation of said retrofit modular unit therein.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:
a second IEM to provide said retrofit modular unit with high IEM
performance reliability, wherein one IEM is active and the second IEM is
standby, said standby IEM assuming IEM functional performance in response
to detection of a functional fault in said active IEM; and wherein
said TIM is adapted to be releasably joined through said adaptive backplane
assembly to said active and said standby IEM, said TIM being further
adapted to receive the plurality of trunk lines therein and to distribute
said trunk lines to each said IEM through said adaptive backplane
assembly.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:
each said IEM further comprises a line interface unit (LIU) for receiving
therein the plurality of trunk lines, said LIU including switching means
responsive to command signals received from the associated IEM signal
processor to connect and, alternately, not to connect the trunk lines to
its associated IEM in dependence on said IEM being active or standby,
respectively.
13. The method of providing an operator interactive interface for detecting
trunk line signal faults in telephone network equipment having plural
modules which are interconnected with releasable engagement of the
module's connector with a mating connector in the master backplane of the
telephone equipment cabinetry, so as to allow the equipment to control the
exchange of network format signals between network subscribers over the
trunk lines, and to control the exchange of equipment format signals
between equipment modules, comprising:
providing an interface electronics module (IEM), having an IEM signal
processor and associated IEM signal memory, for performing signal analysis
of the network format signals to detect the presence and absence of signal
fault conditions on a plurality of network trunk lines and for providing
signal indicia thereof;
enclosing said IEM in a housing having a faceplate and a signal connector
for receiving the plurality of network trunk lines;
adapting said housing for releasable mounting in the telephone equipment
cabinet in a manner so as to position said faceplate in an operator
viewable location concurrent with the engagement of said signal connector
with the master backplane; and
installing a control panel on said faceplate, said control panel having an
array of viewable signal display apparatus and one or more operator
control devices disposed thereon, each said signal display being
responsive to said signal indicia and to said operator control devices for
providing a viewable display of the presence and absence of signal fault
conditions at said control panel, in response to said operator control
devices.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein said step of enclosing includes:
mounting said faceplate and said connector at distal ends of said housing.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein:
said step of providing includes having said IEM signal processor perform
said signal analysis of the network format signals on each network trunk
line received therein, in successive sample time intervals to detect in
each sample interval the presence and absence of a selected type of signal
fault conditions, and having said IEM signal processor store the analysis
results of each sample interval for each sampled trunk line in said IEM
signal memory; and
said step of installing further includes:
having said operator controlled input devices provide, in response to
operator entry, a trunk selection command signal which identifies to said
IEM signal processor a selected one of the plurality of network trunk
lines, said IEM signal processor providing to said viewable signal display
apparatus in response thereto the current sample interval signal fault
conditions stored in said IEM signal memory for the identified trunk line;
and
including among said array of viewable signal display apparatus a first
group and a second group of signal annunciators, each first group signal
annunciator being associated with one of said selected type signal fault
conditions and each displaying the current sample interval signal fault
conditions associated with the trunk line identified by a current said
trunk selection command signal, said second group of signal annunciators
displaying the identity of the trunk line associated with a current trunk
selection command signal.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein each first group signal annunciator
comprises one or more alpha numeric characters which identify the
associated type signal fault condition, said alpha numeric characters
being visibly illuminated in the presence of the associated signal fault
condition and being non-illuminated in the absence of said signal fault
condition.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein said first group of signal annunciators
each comprise a mask with a translucent portion in a configuration of the
alpha-numeric character which is symbolic of the associated signal fault
condition, and backlight apparatus capable of providing illumination of
said mask in the presence of said associated signal fault condition.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein said first group of signal annunciators
each provide a three character alpha-numeric display to identify the
associated signal fault condition.
19. The method of claim 15, wherein said second group of signal
annunciators comprise one or more light emitting diodes.
20. The method of claim 15, wherein said operator controlled command input
devices comprise a pair of depressable switches which, when depressed,
alternately increment and decrement through a list of trunk line
identifiers to identify, when released, the current trunk line identified
in said trunk command signal.
21. The method of claim 15, wherein:
said step of providing further includes having said IEM signal memory
include stored program signals which command the IEM signal processor to
periodically perform a self test of the IEM functional performance and to
provide, in the presence of a detected IEM functional fault, a signal
indication thereof; and
said step of including further provides a third group of signal
annunciators which are responsive to said signal indications of an IEM
functional fault, to provide a viewable display of the current state of
IEM functional performance.
22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:
joining to said IEM, through an adaptive backplane assembly and in a
fixedly releasable manner, a termination interface module (TIM), to form a
retrofit modular unit capable of being releasably mounted in the equipment
mounting cabinet, said adaptive backplane assembly being capable of
electrically connecting said IEM and said TIM to the master backplane of
the equipment mounting cabinet with installation of said retrofit modular
unit therein.
23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:
providing said retrofit modular unit with first and second IEMs to provide
said retrofit modular unit with high IEM performance reliability, wherein
one IEM is active and the second IEM is standby, and, said standby IEM
assuming active IEM status in response to detection of a functional fault
in said prior active IEM; and wherein
said TIM is adapted to be joined through said adaptive backplane assembly,
in a fixedly releasable manner to each IEM, said TIM being further adapted
to receive the plurality of trunk lines therein and to distribute said
trunk lines to each said IEM through said adaptive backplane assembly.
24. The method claim 23, wherein:
each said IEM further comprises a line interface unit (LIU) for receiving
therein the plurality of trunk lines, said LIU including switching means
responsive to command signals received from the associated IEM signal
processor to connect and, alternately, not to connect the trunk lines to
its associated IEM in dependence on said IEM being active or standby,
respectively.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to network systems, and more particularly to
apparatus for assisting a network system operator in performing, real time
fault isolation in an operating system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Effective management of network systems, including telephone systems, is
necessary to optimize the system's operational capabilities and to
minimize signal traffic disruptions. Management objectives include
anticipating service deterioration and the quick isolation and repair of
the causes of disruption and/or failure. This requires that operational
performance monitoring and system fault isolation be performed in real
time, during system operation, and with minimum signal traffic disruption.
Fault management in particular must include the ability to isolate and
repair faults quickly enough to comply with BELLCORE service quality
standards.
The timely isolation and repair of faults first requires an ease of access
to the system equipment and wiring by the system operator, or
craftsperson. Secondly, with access, the craftsperson must have the
ability to apply fault diagnostics to quickly isolate failures to the
system's switching equipment or to the network wiring since network faults
require the assistance of the network operator and, therefore, greater
lead time, while system faults may be repaired by the system operator
alone. The difficulty in applying timely fault diagnostics is in the
availability of diagnostic equipment at the point of system access.
Typically portable diagnostic equipment must be used, which itself takes
time to set-up and run, adding to the disruption cycle time.
It is desirable, therefore, to provide a system having both ease of access
as well as built in system diagnostic equipment capable of responding to
an operator in an interactive manner to enable timely fault isolation.
While this capability may be added to newly designed systems it is not
often practical, or even possible, to retrofit installed systems in a
manner to provide both access and diagnostic capability. Even with newly
designed systems, while there is the recognition of the value that
designed access and built-in diagnostics provide to the system, there may
be concern for the equipment configuration required to provide such access
as well as concern that the added diagnostics will reduce system
reliability.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is to apparatus capable of providing real time
analysis of trunkline signal performance, and for annunciating trunk
signal failures in a front panel display accessible to an operator. The
invention is of particular utility in network installations in which the
required density of trunk lines, or spans, at each interface prohibits the
use of traditional methods.
According to one aspect of the invention the apparatus includes an
interactive electronic modules (IEM) to provide bi-directional translation
of the trunk signals between the network PCM protocol and the parent
telephone system's proprietary protocol, while simultaneously providing
real time performance monitoring and fault detection of the trunk signal
content. In further accord with this aspect of the invention, the IEM
includes a faceplate having signal display apparatus for providing visual
reports to an operator of detected network events, including
identification of fault types and fault location.
In still further accord with this aspect of the invention, the IEM
faceplate includes an operator responsive input device which permits the
operator to command the display of the presence and absence of signal
faults on each individual one of the tunk lines connected to the IEM. In
vet still further accord with this aspect of the invention, the IEM signal
display apparatus includes an array of signal annunciators, each
annunciator in the array being adapted to provide individual display of an
individual type fault, whereby the array provides visual display of all
present faults on each trunkline selected by an operator.
According to another aspect of the invention, the apparatus provides
on-line, real time performance monitoring and fault detection while
maintaining the network quality of service standards by having redundant,
primary and secondary IEMs mounted in a termination interface module (TIM)
which routes the trunkline signals to each IEM jointly; the redundant IEMs
being operated as a primary and secondary pair in which the secondary
becomes operable in the event of failure of the primary IEM.
In further accord with this aspect of the invention, each TIM mounted IEM
may be individually removed in a manner which is transparent to the
operation of the adjoining IEM and to network performance, thereby
isolating network quality of service from single IEM failures. In still
further accord with this feature of the invention, each IEM additionally
performs, when active, self health diagnostics which, in the event of a
detected self health failure causes automatic switchover to the alternate
IEM, thereby providing for dual failure reliability of the IEM function.
Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to
those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following
description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with
the accompanying figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING
FIG. 1, is an elevation view of interactive faceplate apparatus according
to the present invention;
FIG. 2, is a block diagram illustration of a wireless telephone network
embodiment in which the present invention may be used;
FIG. 3, is a schematic block diagram of one portion of the embodiment FIG.
2;
FIG. 4, is a schematic block diagram of another portion of the embodiment
of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5, is a detailed schematic diagram of one element of the portion
illustrated in FIG. 3;
FIG. 6, is a partially exploded, perspective illustration mounting
embodiment of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in a network hardware installation;
FIG. 7 is a perspective illustration of one element of the embodiment FIG.
6; and
FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of an interface electronics module in
which the present invention may be used.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
In the following description of a best mode embodiment, the invention is
described in connection with its application in a GSM protocol wireless
telephone system. However, it should be understood that the invention is
not limited to such an application, may be used in connection with any
type network application, both wireless and wireline systems, and may also
have utility in other generalized applications.
Referring first to FIG. 2, which is a system block diagram of the
architecture of a known type wireless communication system 20, such as the
Nortel Networks Model PCS 1900 Digital Cellular System, in which the
present invention may be used. In the system 20 mobile handset users 22,
24 have full duplex wireless communications through antennas 26, 28 with
base transceiver stations (BTSs) 30, 32. The BTSs 30, 32 are the
radio-to-wireline interface between the handset users 22, 24 and the
system's wireline network, and they provide both dynamic power control and
frequency hopping to maintain voice call quality. The BTS 30, 32 are
connected through trunk lines 34-36 to the system's base station
controller (BSC) 38. The trunk line 34-36 may be dual twisted pair copper
wire, (PCM 30 or DS1) coaxial cable, (PCM 30 only); all of which provide
differential signal transmission of the voice and data digital signals
between the BTS 30, 32 and the BSC 38.
The BSC 38, which is described in further detail hereinafter with respect
to FIG. 3, manages all of the radio resources of the BTS 30, 32, including
hand-offs, traffic concentration and radio channel allocation. The BSC 38
communicates through lines 40 with the network's operation subsystem 42.
The subsystem 42 includes the Operations and Maintenance Center-Radio
(OMC-R) 44, which is a graphical interface that provides operation and
maintenance functions, including performance management of the BSC.
The format of the digital signal transmission from the BTS 30, 32 is in
either a DS-1 (also known as T1) or PCM 30 (also known as a E1) protocol.
As known the DS-1 protocol includes 24, eight bit channels per 125
microsecond frame; each channel sample having a byte interval of 5.2
microseconds. Alternatively, the PCM 30 is frame formatted for either 30
voice channels and two service channels or 31 voice channels and one
service channel; in either case totals 32, eight bit channels in a 125
microsecond frame resulting in a channel byte interval of 3.906
microseconds. The BSC 38 provides the signals from the BTS 30, 32 on lines
46-48 to a transcoding unit (TCU) 50. The signal data rate between the
BTSs, the BSC and TCU 50 is either 8 Kbps or 16 Kbps, which is the
wireless system speech compression rate. The TCU 50 translates the
wireless system signal speed to 64 Kbps PCM speech.
The BTS 30, 32, BSC 38, operation subsystem 42 arnd TCU 50 collectively
comprise the Base Station Subsystem (BSS) which functions as the interface
between the mobile handset users 22, 24 and the Network Switching
Subsystem (NSS) 55. The NSS 55 provides the switching, mobility and
subscriber management and intelligent networking activities required to
provide the seamless and secure operation of the wireless system. The NSS
includes the network DMS Mobility Switching Center (DMS-MSC) 56 which is
connected through lines 57 to the Operation Subsystem 42 and through lines
58 to the public switch telephone network 60.
The DMS-MSC, which may comprise a Nortel Networks model Digital Multiplex
System (DMS) 100 digital switch running wireless software, coordinates the
call setup to and from the PSTN and the Base Station Subsystem. The
DMS-MSC also includes a visitor location register (VLR) 60, which stores
information about subscribers currently registered in the service area,
enabling an operator to track subscribers as they roam throughout the GSM
network.
The second main element of the NSS 55 is the intelligent network (IN) 62,
which includes databases and processing for subscriber and equipment
validation, subscriber tracking, and service delivery. Components of the
IN 62 include: a home location register (HLR) 64, an authentication center
66, a short message service (SMS) center 68 and an equipment identity
register 70. All of which are connected to the DMS-MSC 56.
FIG. 3 is a system block diagram of the base station controller 38. The BSC
receives the trunk lines 34-36 at an interface unit 72. As described in
detail hereinafter with respect to the following Figures, the interface
unit 72 provides certain levels of system diagnostics, including
performance measurement and fault detection. In the present invention, the
interface also provides for interactive technician-system procedures which
permit the technician to isolate and access individual trunk lines. The
voice and data channels are passed from the interface unit through lines
74 to the BSC Conmmon Equipment Module (CEM) 76.
As known the CEM 76 provides the central processing for the BSC 39 as well
as providing the time switching of the pulse code modulated (PCM) data and
the routing of the PCM data between the interface unit 72 and the 8 Kbps
remote module (RM) time switch 78. The CEM 76 also communicates through
the ATM resource module (RM) interface 80 with the ATM backplane (not
shown) of the BSC Control Node 81, which in turn communicates through
lines 40 with the operation subsystem 42 (FIG. 2).
In the present invention, the operation of the BSC 38, including the CEM 76
is that required by the particular system application and/or system
performance parameters, all of which is well known to those skilled in the
art. The CEM passes the process voice and data channel signals through
lines 82 to a second interface unit 84, which connects the CEM through the
lines 46-48 to the TCU 50 (FIG. 2). The configuration and function of the
interface 84 is identical to that of the interface 72.
FIG. 4 is a simplified block diagram of the TCU 50. According to the
present invention the TCU is also connected to the system trunk lines
46-48 and 52-54 through interface units 86 and 88 which are connected
through lines 90, 92 to the CEM 94 of the TCU 50. Once again, other than
the interface units 86, 88, the TCU 50 is similar in both configuration
and function to transcoding units known in the art. The function of the
CEM is to provide the central processing for the TCU as well as to provide
time switching routing of the PCM data between the interface units 86, 88
and the transcoding resource modules (TRMs) 96. The interface units 72,
84, 86 and 88 are substantially identical in terms of function,
performance and configuration.
FIG. 5 is a system block diagram of the interface unit 72, which is
representative of all of the interface units. In FIG. 5 the trunk lines
34-36 from the BTS 30, 32 (FIG. 2) are received at the BSC at a Main
Distribution Frame (MDF) 100. The MDF functions as a terminal to receive
the trunk line and to provide a transition point between the outside trunk
lines and the BSC hardware. The DS-1 or PCM 30 trunk lines are shown as
groups of signal lines 101-103 which are routed from the MDF 100 to a
plurality of cable transition units (CTUs) 104-106. As shown by the CTU
106, each include a plurality of cable transition modules (CTMs) 108-110,
each of which typically receive up to 3 of the signal lines in each group
of lines 101-103.
The actual number of lines received at each CTM is a function of system
bandwidth and also the type of signal format (i.e., either DS-1 with 28
inputs or PCM 30 with 21 inputs). The CTMs provide secondary surge
protection (primary surge protection, including lightening protection
being provided at the MDF 100 or on the line side of the MDF), passive
impedance matching electronics in the case of PCM 30 trunk lines, and
manual loopback switches. The loopback switches, as described in detail
hereinafter, permit isolation of trunk line signal faults to either the
BSC equipment itself or to the incoming trunk lines 34-36.
Each CTM is a multilayer circuit board assembly which supports up to three
PCM 30 lines, either twisted pair, coaxial, or optical fiber. In the
present embodiment the lines are assumed to be twisted pair. Up to 21 PCM
30 signal lines are directed to each CTU 104-106, which presents 3 to each
of its CTMs; a total of 7 CTMs in a best mode embodiment of the CTU. The
network signals from CTMs 108-110 are coupled through lines 112-114 to a
cable transition board (CTB) 116, and from the CTB to a plurality of low
speed access (LSA) modules 118-120, through lines 121-123.
As described hereinafter with respect to FIG. 6, the CTUs are installed in
cabinetry which, is required to be located adjacent the cabinetry housing
the LSAs 118-120. As described hereinafter, the LSAs provide interactive,
diagnostic capability with the network's technical person, or operator in
a Human Machine Interface (HMI) protocol. As shown by the LSA 120, each
LSA comprises a termination interface module (TIM) 125 which receives the
PCM 30 lines 123, performs inactive electromagnetic interference (EMI)
filtering (not shown), and presents the trunk signal lines through a
mini-backplane connector 124 to each of two redundant interface
electronics modules (IEMs) 126, 128.
The mini-backplane 124 is a connector assembly which is shown schematically
in FIG. 5. The mini-backplane 124 provides the electrical signal
interconnections and the mechanical mounting interface between the TIM 125
and IEM 126, 128 modular configuration and the master backplane 130, i.e
the electrical signal connector mounted in the cabinetry housing the LSAs
118-120. In FIG. 5, the mini-backplane 124 is illustrated in figurative
fashion to demonstrate the inner connections provided between the TIM 125
and the IEMs 126, 128, together with their connection to the master
backplane 130. These interconnections include lines 132, 134 from the IEMs
126, 128 to the master backplane and lines 136, 138 from the TIM 125 to
each of the IEMs 126, 128. Finally, lines 140 provide direct electrical
signal interconnection between IEMs, thereby allowing the two IEMs to
exchange control and status information.
As described hereinbefore, the object of the present invention is to
provide improved technician-operator access to the trunk line spans to be
able to perform signal fault isolation in a timely and efficient manner;
in compliance with the BELLCORE quality standards. As described
hereinafter with respect to FIG. 8, the IEMs 126, 128 each include
computer-based electronics for performing performance monitoring and fault
detection from among the trunk lines passing through the LSA 120. As a
result of the complexity and circuit board density of the IEMs, two IEMs
are provided in each LS.A to improve LSA reliability. However, only one
IEM is operational at a time; the second IEM acting as backup in the event
of failure of the first one.
Referring now to FIG. 6, which is a figurative, exploded perspective view
of a portion of the equipment mounting cabinet. The CTUs 141-143 are shown
mounted in cabinetry 144 which is located adjacent to the cabinet 146 that
houses the LSA 147. The LSA 147 itself comprises a TIM 148, IEMs 150, 152,
and mini-backplane assembly 154. The LSA module 147 is seated 156 in the
mini-backplane 154 and engages the mini-backplane connectors 157-61. The
mounted elements are then slid into the cabinet 146 with the
mini-backplane reverse side connectors (shown in phantom) mechanically and
electrically engaging connectors 162-164 of the master backplane 166 of
the cabinet 146.
In a best mode embodiment, the TIM 148 is connected to its associated CTU
through cables 168, 170 which correspond to the TRANSMIT and RECEIVE pairs
of each of the 21 PCM 30 (or 28 DS-1) two pair trunk lines. As shown in
FIG. 6, the TIM 148 receives the CTU trunk lines in cables 168, 170 at the
front of the cabinet 146, within easy access of the system operator.
Similarly, the IEMs 150, 152 include interactive face plates 180, 182
which, as described in detail hereinafter with respect to FIGS. 7, 8
provide a human machine interface (HMI) at the front of the cabinet to
allow easy access and interactive response between the service operator
and the network diagnostic functions.
FIG. 7 is a close-up illustration of the face of a CTM 183 of the type
included within the CTUs 141-143 in cabinet 144. The CTM 183 receives
three PCM 30 trunk lines (or four DS-1 trunk lines) within the lines 184
from the customer wiring 145 (FIG. 6) at a connector 185. The face of the
CTM 183 includes three dual position loopback switches 186-188. The
switches provide the operator with the front panel ability to loopback
each PCM 30 span to the LSA (e.g. 147) or to the customer wiring (e.g. the
MDF 100, FIG. 5) in order to isolate a trunk line fault to one of the two
sectors. This loopback testing ability is positioned in close proximity to
the operator's faceplate access at the LSA, providing the operator to
observe the change in system fault conditions as a result of loopback
testing.
Referring now to FIG. 1, which is a front elevation of the LSA 147 with the
TIM 148 and IEMs 150, 152 mounted in a module configuration. The
faceplates 180, 182 of the IEMs 150, 152 have the same HMI indicia. As
described hereinafter, the face plate indicia includes both signal
annunciators, signal indicators, and input controls which may be
manipulated by the technician-operator. As shown with the faceplate 180 of
the IEM 150, the HMI indicia is grouped into two categories, including an
LSA status indicator (sometimes referred to as "Locklatch Indicators) 189
and an array 190 of signal annunciators, which are further described in
detail hereinafter.
As described hereinbefore only one of the two IEMs in each LSA is active at
a time; the other is in a "stand-by mode"; with its two catagories, or
groups, of indicators 189, 190 inactive, and unlighted. Alternatively, the
indicators of the active IEM are lighted so the active IEM is immediately
obvious to the observer-operator. In FIG. 1 it is assumed the LSA 150 is
inactive, shown with its indicators in an unlighted or "gray" state while
the IEM 152 is active with its indicators lighted, as shown in a more
resolute "black and white" state.
Referring to the IEM 152, in a best mode embodiment, the locklatch
indicators 189 have geometric shapes, including a circular indicator 191,
a triangular indicator 192, and a rectangular indicator 194. The circular
indicator 191 is preferably an amber color light emitting diode (LED)
which when un-lighted indicates that all external signals to the IEM
appear to be valid and when lighted indicates that at least one of
external inputs is invalid. The triangular indicator 192, which is
preferably a red LED, and the
TABLE I
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GREEN RED MODULE STATE
______________________________________
Off Off Unpowered (Inactive)
On On Power-up LED test
Wink Off Power-up self test underway
On Off Do not remove module
Off Wink Module is being indicated
Off On Module may be removed
______________________________________
rectangular indicator 194, which is preferably a green LED, operate in
combination with ON, OFF, and WINK states to report IEM status in one of
six states, as listed in Table I.
The array 190 of signal annunciators include status indicators 196 and 200.
In the best mode embodiment the indicator 196 is shown as a masked,
back-illuminated "Synch Ref" indicator which, when illuminated, indicates
that its associated IEM is serving as the synch reference for the modules
installed in the cabinet 146. The indicator 200 is an alpha-numeric
display which indicates the particular LSA module number, which is
intended to assist the operator in associating a particular LSA with its
related CTU (e.g. 141-143, FIG. 6) in cabinetry 144 (FIG. 6).
The annunciator array 190 further includes a fault indicator subgroup 202,
comprising specific fault condition annunciators 204-209. The embodied
annunciators include; Loss of Signal (LOS) 204, Alarm Indication Signal
(AIS) 205, Loss of Frame Alignment (LFA) 206, a Frame Error (FE) 207, a
Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) 208, and a Remote Alarm Indication (RAI)
209. In the preferred embodiment, the annunciators include a backlighted
mask with a translucent cut-out corresponding to the alpha-numeric
characters of the related fault. The indicators are lighted red whenever
its associated fault condition is detected on any of the trunk lines.
The particular fault indication reported by the subgroup 202 is associated
with the particular span identified in a SPAN #, two digit LED display
210. The SPAN # indicator is a preferably tristate, indicating either "OK"
if there are no problems on any of the trunk lines, or a trunk line number
if there is a detected fault. The inactive IEM in a given LSA (such as the
IEM 150 of the LSA 147) will display the "--".
The operator-technician may select a particular span to be displayed by
using the "UP arrow" and "DOWN arrow" buttons 212, 213 which, when
depressed, increment and decrement the SPAN # (i.e. trunk line number)
thereby allowing the operator to select individual trunk lines for status
and fault display on the fault indicators 204-209. Finally, a "Multiple
Spans Alarm" lamp 214 is a red LED which blinks when there are alarms on
more than one span, thereby alerting the operator to look at more than one
span in performing the fault isolation analysis.
FIG. 8 is a simplified schematic block diagram of the IEM 152 (FIG. 1)
which receives the trunk lines 220 through the mini-backplane 154 (FIG.
6), from the TIM 148 (FIGS. 6). The trunk lines 220 are presented to a
Line Interface Unit (LIU) 222 that terminates the incoming trunk lines at
individual double pole double throw relay switches (not shown) that are
selectively actuated to route the trunk lines into the active IEM (and
isolating them from the inactive IEM). The LIU also provides
bi-directional signal conversion; converting the bipolar AMI ternary level
signals to unipolar PCM signals to be presented to the CEM on the receive
side, and it provides the reverse conversion on the transmit side.
The converted span signals are provided through lines 223 lo the signal
framing. The framers also provide performance monitoring of the trunk
signals, including: CRC Errors, Loss of Frame, Frame Errors, Frame Slips,
Loss of Signal, and Code Errors. The framers also provide the Alarm
Indication Signal, the Remote Alarm Signal, and the Remote Multiframe
Alarm Signal.
The framed signals are provided on lines 226 to the receive-transmit
mappers 228 which function to transfer the payload data between the
framers 224 and the high-speed serial link (SLINK) 230 and, in the reverse
direction from the SLINK to the mappers. The signals are then provided on
lines 231 through the mini-backplane 154 to the master backplane 166 (FIG.
6) of the equipment cabinetry 146 (FIG. 6).
Each of the trunk signal conditioning functions are connected to an IEM bus
232 to the IEM signal processor 234, which is a known type such as the
MOTOROLA model MC68360 microprocessor. The IEM signal memory 236 includes
both dynamic RAM (DRAM) as well as flash EEPROM.
The signal fault conditions detected by the IEM signal processor 234 are
stored in the IEM memory 236, and forwarded to the service center at the
OMC-R (44, FIG. 2). Each trunk line is sampled in each succeeding sample
interval and the new sample results are written over the stored results.
Between samples the processor 234 transfers the stored data through the
bus 232 to faceplate user interface circuitry 240, which provides the
display drivers for all of the front panel display indicators 191-210 and
multiple span alarms 214. It also transduces the UP and DOWN button
commands into increment and decrement signals which are presented through
bus 232 to the signal processor 234. An interrupt handler 242 is used to
consolidate all of the external interrupts that are received through
input/output (I/O) interface 244 onto one of 7 levels of interrupts
recognized by the MC68360 processor (234).
The LSA of the present invention provides a modular unit which is suitable
for retrofit installation in existing telephone equipment cabinetry and
when installed, the interactive faceplate of the IEM provides the network
operator with easy access to the signal fault display and the ability to
command the display of signal faults on any trunk line within the IEM.
Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to a best
mode embodiment thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the
art that various changes, omissions, and additions may be made to the form
and detail of the disclosed embodiment without departing from the spirit
and scope of the invention, as recited in the following claims.
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